HC Deb 22 June 1917 vol 94 c2124
14. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board is keeping a record of preventible deaths due to the absence or remoteness of a medical officer in those places throughout Ireland in which the guardians of the poor have appointed such officers and the Local Government Board withholds its necessary sanction; and, if the opinion of the Law Officers en the legality of the Board's conduct producing such results has been obtained, will he say what it is?

Mr. DUKE

The Local Government Board have not received information of any preventible disease due to the absence or remoteness of medical officers in places where the guardians of the poor have appointed such officers, and the Board has withheld its sanction. If any such cases were notified they would be officially recorded. I am told the legality of the Board's action is likely to be the subject of judicial decision.

Mr. GINNELL

The question does not ask about diseases but about sudden deaths.

Mr. DUKE

The hon. Member may take it that there is no record of any such deaths, and if they had been notified they would have been recorded.